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  • Homestead Airmen return from Iraq

    More than 260 Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base were welcomed home Aug. 13 as they returned from supporting the war on terrorism at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen were bused from the flightline to the reception area where hundreds of family members, friends, elected officials and local media

  • Homestead cleans up, stages relief

    Just hours after Hurricane Wilma hit this base, the 482nd Fighter Wing had the base airfield open and ready to help with relief efforts. The wing is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Florida Army National Guard and local officials here to send relief supplies to south Florida

  • Homestead offers respite for Haiti earthquake victims

    Since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti Jan. 12, Homestead Air Reserve Base has become a staging area for aircrews to bring earthquake victims. The base, located approximately 25 miles southwest of Miami, has become a hub for aircraft and personnel supporting Operation Unified

  • Homestead prepares for Hurricane Wilma

    The 482nd Fighter Wing is preparing for Hurricane Wilma. Airmen here are evacuating fighter jets and officials are coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for potential hurricane-relief operations. Six F-16 Fighting Falcons evacuated to Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga., and three

  • Homestead reservists prepare for Ernesto

    Air Force reservists of the 482nd Fighter Wing are preparing for landfall of Tropical Storm Ernesto on the Florida Peninsula here.  Pilots evacuated six F-16 Fighting Falcons to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 28. Another eight jets remained at Hill Air Force Base,

  • Hometown crowd roots for U.S.A.

    More than 3,000 soccer fans of all ages rooted for U.S.A. by bringing hometown America to Pulaski Park, just a short drive from the stadium where their team tied Italy, 1-1, in a 2006 FIFA World Cup match June 17.They did it with an 11-hour World Cup Fest at the park on Pulaski Barracks.

  • Hometown friends serve together on deployment

    For Air Force Lt. Col. Elizabeth Clay, Air Force Col. Brad Hoagland made a difference in her life and career more than 28 years ago, when the two were in high school. Today, they find themselves serving together halfway around the world -- he as the vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing

  • Hometown of AF first woman 4-star dedicates new high school in her honor

    Beavercreek City Schools dedicated its high school campus to Air Force Materiel Command Commander Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, a 1976 Beavercreek graduate, in a ceremony held March 15.The campus was renamed the "General Janet C. (Libby) Wolfenbarger Campus at Beavercreek High School." The school is

  • Hometowns support troops with Operation Tribute to Freedom

    More than 1,000 hometowns across the nation will join the Defense Department this Fourth of July in recognizing hometown heroes and honoring the men and women who have served in the war on terrorism. The recognition is part of Operation Tribute to Freedom, and Army Maj. Gen. Anders B. Aadland,

  • Home-use programs provide software to Airmen

    Even after approximately eight hours of work per day, some Airmen are still compelled to bring their projects home. Because of this, Air Force officials have partnered with major software companies to provide Airmen with a variety of software products, such as anti-virus, middleware and desktop

  • Homeward-bound crew thankful for support

    Among the many missions B-52s flew during Operation Iraqi Freedom, crewmembers aboard one Stratofortress said their most eagerly awaited sortie was the one they were on April 24.The crew spoke to reporters at the Pentagon via a radio-to-telephone connection as they flew home to Minot Air Force Base,

  • Hondurans, Americans team for combined jump

    More than 250 Honduran soldiers took their first step toward Airborne readiness when they leaped from the back of a U.S. Army helicopter Jan. 24 in a combined training jump with U.S. Soldiers here. Joint Task Force-Bravo member's involvement enhanced relations between the two nation's militaries by

  • Honduras airshow aids local hospital

    An international air show united aviators, air forces and Hondurans to share their love of flying to help save lives at a local hospital June 20 and 21 here. More than 30 U.S. Air Forces Southern Airmen, a KC-135 Stratotanker, two F-16 Fighting Falcons and an F-16 demonstration team deployed to the

  • Honduras, American medics gather to share skills

    More than 35 Honduran doctors, nurses and emergency medical members met with Joint Task Force-Bravo medics to discuss emergency procedures April 6 at Hospital Militar Luis Alonso Discua in Honduras. During the exchange, American medics stationed at Soto Cono Air Base explained emergency protocols

  • Honduras-based U.S. troops not involved in coup, remain safe

    American forces stationed in Honduras were not involved in the military coup June 28 and remain safe, a Pentagon official said here June 29. Some 50 miles northwest of the capital city of Tegucigalpa, where President Manuel Zelaya was apparently ousted, the situation is calm at Soto Cano Air Base,

  • Honor guard Airman pushes past her limits

    It’s noon on a Saturday, and Staff Sgt. April Spilde chalks up her hands in the gym at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, as she waits for her chance to lift during a powerlifting competition. Spilde isn’t thinking about how big the other competitors are or how much weight they can lift;

  • Honor guard Airmen save three from car fire

    An Independence Day tragedy was averted July 4 by three Air Reserve Personnel Center Honor Guard members who were returning here from a ceremony July 3 in South Dakota.As Staff Sgts. Shelly Dapp, Louis Deanda and Juan Williams were entering the outskirts of Denver around 4 p.m., they noticed a sport

  • Honor guard brings new perspective for Airman

    Some people see the honor guard when they’re performing their duties; attending funerals, parades, presenting colors and firing their rifles. They may not know what goes on behind the scenes, or what goes on in their minds.For Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Graham, Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard Delta

  • Honor Guard Drill Team keeping sharp for Air Force

    The United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team recently returned from their latest 11-day tour around the U.S., that included visits to Atlanta; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; and Salt Lake City. During their visits, the team performed for NCAA Final Four events, including the opening ceremonies at

  • Honor Guard drill team performs for special-needs students

    Though the usual cheering and applause was muted, the excitement was palpable as the Air Force Honor Guard drill team performed for a special audience Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. The drill team, in Las Vegas to perform for the Air Force's 60th Anniversary Air Force Week at Nellis Air Force Base, put on a

  • Honor Guard exhibits excellence, represents service

    For Airmen assigned to the United States Air Force Honor Guard here, excellence isn't a trait to be desired, it's expected. "We are in the public spotlight day in and day out," said Staff Sgt. Eric Allen, the media librarian for the USAF Honor Guard. "So every time we do our job we have to make sure

  • Honor Guard gives President Ford final honors

    Like many rapid response teams in the Air Force, the elite U.S. Air Force Honor Guard has to be ready at a moment's notice. When President Gerald R. Ford passed away Dec. 26, the Honor Guard was alerted and organized itself for the events surrounding the funeral of the 38th president. "Once we were

  • Honor Guard helps lay President Ford to rest

    It's what many Airmen work for, day in and day out -- the chance to actually do what they have been training for, and to carry out their mission to the fullest. For members of the Air Force Honor Guard here at Bolling Air Force Base, this is that day. These honor guardsmen helped the nation pay its

  • Honor guard lays to rest Airmen killed in Iraq

    The tradition of laying to rest one's own carries with it the heavy burden of knowing a fellow Airman and hero has just departed. While this is the everyday job of ceremonial guardsmen, sometimes a death hits home a little harder and makes a lasting impact on those who take a part in the funeral.

  • Honor Guard officials seeking experienced NCOs

    The Air Force Honor Guard, located on Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., is a small, selectively manned unit of just over 200 people, most of whom are young Airmen straight from basic training. Its primary mission is to render final military honors to Airmen and their family members in

  • Honor guard provides unique opportunity

    The hurried commotion of people chatting and finding their seats overwhelms the room. A group of five people stand in the background; not one Airman says a word and all stand tall and unwavering. These five Airmen are silent for a purpose. They are the color guard detail for the retirement ceremony

  • Honor Guard recruits airmen

    Air Force Honor Guard officials are always looking for motivated and dedicated airmen and noncommissioned officers for what they call the world's best job.Located here, the 250-person unit seeks airmen E-4 through E-7 for their experience, said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Buckley, the Air Force Honor

  • Honor guard takes national award

    The 301st Fighter Wing Honor Guard took center stage -- not as presenter, but as the recipient of the Air Force Association’s the 2005 Citation of Honor. This annual honor -- the association’s highest achievement award -- recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual or group in the

  • Honor guard transitions to new funeral guidelines

    Beginning Nov. 1, honor guard teams across the Air Force will support retiree funeral missions with seven members for standard funerals nationwide. While funerals at Arlington National Cemetery will continue to receive military honors supported by Air Force Honor Guard Airmen, funerals for retirees

  • Honor guard, ceremonial guardsmen award winners named

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2004 Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Base Honor Guard and U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Guardsmen Awards. The winners are: -- Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year: Master Sgt. Angela Valentine from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

  • Honor, dignity and grace: USAF honor guard trains Tyndall Airmen

    A slow procession of Airmen dressed in immaculate blue uniforms carries a large wooden box with a flag draped over the top. A trumpet sounds. Shots ring out. Carefully, the Airmen fold the flag, salute it and present it. For nearly 29 Airmen serving in the Tyndall Air Force Base Honor Guard, this is

  • Honorary commanders program in full swing at Kunsan

    More then 60 honorary commanders held a friendship day for about 400 Wolf Pack Airmen to increase relationships between the base and local community Nov. 12. "The honorary commanders program is a win-win situation for Kunsan's good neighbors and Wolf Pack Airmen," said Col. CQ Brown, 8th Fighter

  • Honoring a brother's sacrifice

    An Airman here is honoring his brother's service two years after he paid the ultimate sacrifice when an improvised explosive device detonated and struck his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.Senior Airman Jason Nathan was killed June 23, 2007, and today Staff Sgt. Joe Nathan Jr. is deployed

  • Honoring a legacy of 100 years

    ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFNS)--Bringing the past to the present, honoring 100 years of heritage, the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons and associated aircraft maintenance units have always played a significant role in the nation’s defense - a heritage stemming from World War I that has only

  • Honoring a legend

    Retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” Cole, the last surviving member of the Doolittle Raid and an original Air Commando, passed away at the age of 103, April 9.

  • Honoring fallen heroes full-time job

    Click, click, click. People can hear the crisp, unmistakable sound of heels tapping together simultaneously.With precision movements, Homestead Air Reserve Base Honor Guard Airmen march in unison to take their spot in the funeral procession. They are dressed in pristine Air Force dress uniforms

  • Honoring Gold Star mothers, families

    Gold Star mothers and families exemplify the selflessness and patriotism that's inherent in our nation's military, President Barack Obama said.The president proclaimed Sept. 25, 2011, Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day in honor of those who have lost a son or daughter while serving in the military.

  • 'Hoop dreams' come true for Airman

    For the fourth year in a row a Reserve Command member has been tapped to play on the All Air Force basketball team. Capt. Kurtis Darden, the only reservist on the team, will play in the Armed Forces Basketball Tournament to be held March 23 to 28 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. "This year I'm

  • HOPE provides lightweight supplies during humanitarian airdrops

    U.S. Air Force mobility Airmen investigated how to integrate "HOPE" packages into humanitarian airdrop bundles at an Airlift Tanker Association symposium in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 1 to 4 to make delivery of valuable aid more safe and to provide the most important commodity when disaster first

  • Hope, awareness keys to suicide prevention

    Problems come unexpectedly, and things like deployments and family troubles can be big stressors for many servicemembers. But one thing care providers want to get across is that suicide is not the right answer.More than 40 Airmen Air Force-wide have committed suicide this year, and though leaders

  • Horn of Africa task force welcomes new commander

    Formations of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines provided the backdrop Feb. 14 as Rear Admiral James M. Hart accepted command from Rear Adm. Richard W. Hunt in a ceremony on the flightline of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.Admiral Hart addressed his vision for

  • Horned Frogs trample Falcons, 48-10

    Texas Christian University trampled the Falcons, 48-10. After the Oct. 22 victory, the 7-1 TCU Horned Frogs remain unbeaten in the Mountain West Conference, holding a two-game lead over the second-ranked team. It also leaves the Falcons facing the possibility of a losing season. “They handed us a

  • Hornets nest in 'Draggins'' lair

    Members of the 25th Fighter Squadron, known as the "Assam Draggins", hosted members of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.The squadron members visited Osan Air Base as part of a six-month deployment to bases across the Pacific, which provided a unique training

  • Hornets swarm Osan

    A nest of Hornets has invaded the sky here and local aircrews say they could not be more excited.A joint training mission is under way. Sailors are flying F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers with the Airmen in A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 25th Fighter Squadron and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 36th

  • Horsing around

    Tech. Sgt. John Gurnsey (left) and Staff Sgt. Scott Vandersloot check the diameter of a chute used to pour concrete. The sergeants are assigned to the 819th/219th Red Horse Squadron at a forward-deployed location where they are building a secure compartmental information facility. Red Horse

  • Hosing 'er down

    Senior Airman Ryan Fletcher, a crew chief with the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, hoses down an F-16's main landing gear wheel wells as part of routine maintenance. His aircraft is currently flying sorties in support of Operation Northern Watch. (Photo byAirman 1st Class Isaac G. L. Freeman)

  • Hospital consolidation going smoothly, commander says

    A large-scale realignment of military health care facilities is nearing culmination, and officials recently said they are pleased with the progress.Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical was created in 2007 to oversee a base realignment and closure law mandate to close Walter Reed Army

  • Hospital develops pregnancy wellness program

    A new program at Wilford Hall Medical Center here teaches expectant mothers about the effects of stress on the mind and body during and after pregnancy. The pregnancy wellness program is a joint project between specialists in the clinical-health psychology and the obstetrics and gynecology

  • Hospital lab provides life-saving products, procedures

    The Air Force Theater Hospital here can do amazing things every day and is able to save lives through the hard work and dedication of the entire staff. But many of the life-saving procedures they perform would not be possible without the information and blood products the laboratory provides. “We

  • Hospital revamps referral appointment system

    Air Force Smart Ops 21 initiatives are not just for operational matters. The Referral Management Center at the hospital here is making a difference in the care for all patients requiring the need of a specialist. The hospital caters to more than 21 specialties in 12 separate clinics, according to

  • Hospital visit good therapy, fun times for all

    Dressed in their finest Hawaiian garb, Renee Gault and Poncho proudly walk into the pediatric clinic at Eglin Hospital carrying leis, birthday hats, toys and crayons.Immediately, every eye in the room focuses on Poncho, not because of the green and red leis around his neck or the toys he has with

  • Hot days are on their way

    When one pictures the combination of sand and sun, tropical paradise may come to mind. But here, that tag team can be one terrible tandem.With the dog days of summer almost upon Iraq, temperatures are rising daily, and dust storms are making frequent visits here.“The weather pattern during the

  • Hot maintenance

    Carrying out maintenance on Dover Air Force Base’s fleet of C-5M Super Galaxies and C-17A Globemaster IIIs can be challenging at times, but extreme heat and humidity can add additional challenges during the summer months.

  • 'Hot pitting' returns to Incirlik

    Airmen from Incirlik's 39th Logistic Readiness Squadron recently began practicing a refueling technique not used at this base in more than a decade. The technique, called hot pitting, allows aircraft such as F-16 Fighting Falcons that are deployed here for training to land and refuel without ever

  • Hot stuff: Firefighters test gear for Air Force

    Being a firefighter is arguably one of the most physically demanding jobs. For that reason, the Air Force is finding ways to make the job easier. Sixteen firefighters here are testing new protective gear that may increase comfort, mobility and mission effectiveness for more than 3,600 active-duty

  • Hotaling named next Air National Guard Command Chief

    Chief Master Sgt. James Hotaling from the Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force here was named as the Air National Guard's next command chief today.As ANG command chief, Hotaling will serve as the senior adviser to Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, the incoming director of the Air National Guard, on

  • Hotel tax exemptions could help AF save millions of dollars

    During a time of increasing Department of Defense budget constraints, the Air Force continuously looks for innovative solutions that save money and positively impacts the mission. Air Education and Training Command's Financial Management office said Air Force travelers could help save millions of

  • Hotline available for outside of command chain

    Department of Defense Inspector General Joseph Schmitz is reminding servicemembers there are a number of ways to report suspected incidents of wrongdoing outside their chains of command.His office runs the DOD Hotline Program. Servicemembers and civilians who wish to report incidents without going

  • Hotline links deployed troops, hurricane-struck families

    With thousands of troops from the hurricane-stricken Gulf Coast deployed thousands of miles from home and worried about their families, a program operated by the National Guard Bureau is providing a vital communication link and assurance that families are being taken care of.Army Col. Anthony Baker

  • House approves Congressional Gold Medal for Civil Air Patrol

    When the founding members of Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, risked life and limb to help protect the home front during the early days of World War II, they weren’t looking for recognition. Some seven decades later, though, they’re receiving it, thanks to the U.S. House of

  • House hears military construction testimony

    Justification for the Air Force’s annual construction budget request can usually be summed up in a couple of words, the service’s top uniformed official said.Mission accomplishment.That message was the central theme during testimony on Capitol Hill on June 22, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P.

  • House hears space cadre testimony

    Air Force leaders provided key testimony July 22 to the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic force subcommittee about efforts to develop the professional space cadre.The undersecretary of the Air Force, Peter B. Teets, and the commander of Air Force Space Command, Gen. Lance W. Lord, explained

  • House leaders name Academy Board of Visitors appointees

    Two top officials in the U.S. House of Representatives announced a new appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors July 15 and the reappointment of two existing board members. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California and Congressman John Boehner of Ohio appointed Congressman

  • House resolution honors aeromedical evacuation Airmen

    Members of the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 28 honoring the Airmen who support and perform aeromedical evacuation.House Resolution 1605 recognizes "the service of the medical and aircrews in helping our wounded warriors make the expeditious and safe trip home

  • House reviews quality of military off-duty education

    A House Armed Services Committee panel heard testimony from Defense Department officials Sept. 21 on the quality of off-duty servicemember voluntary education opportunities.During 2010, an estimated 380,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines will receive $580 million in DOD tuition-assistance

  • Housing privatization embraces Smart Operations 21

    The Air Force housing privatization process is taking a leaner, more efficient approach to getting the job done by developing one central management center, Air Force officials said recently. “The secretary of the Air Force challenged us to find a better way to manage and broker deals and successful

  • Housing privatization projects sold to private company

    The sale of privatized military housing projects at four Air Force bases including Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Moody AFB, Ga.; and Patrick AFB, Fla., and assumption of operations and management of the projects was announced Nov. 4 by the new owners, HP Communities LLC. The

  • Housing privatization reaches many milestones

    The Air Force housing privatization office has reached several major milestones in its seven-year effort to improve base housing for Airmen and their families, an Air Force official said recently. “We are gaining momentum,” said Col. Michael Smietana, chief of Air Force housing. “We’re very close to

  • Housing privatization to begin at 6 bases

    Improved living conditions for Airmen and their families at six Air Education and Training Command bases will become a reality Oct. 1. That's when Pinnacle-Hunt Communities, LLC, as the selected housing developer for the AETC Group II Housing Privatization program, will take charge of the design,

  • Housing seminar focuses on responsive customer service

    Housing professionals and leaders from across the Air Force recently met in New Orleans to celebrate successes of the Air Force's housing programs, and reaffirm their commitment to providing responsive customer service and quality housing for Airmen and their families.At the Professional Housing

  • Housing Web site fully functioning

    A free Department of Defense-sponsored housing referral Web site is fully operational for Air Force members and civilian employees looking for homes in the continental U.S. The Automated Housing Referral Network at www.ahrn.com contains listings for: · Off-base rentals · On-base military housing ·

  • How AF locates, recovers downed aviators

    An isolated military member may be equipped with many survival tools, but perhaps the most important is confidence in the people tasked to conduct his or her rescue. The Air Force’s ability to rapidly deploy and attack the enemy at a moment's notice comes with risk for pilots and other service

  • How harmful is binge drinking?

    If two friends drink six beers every night for six months, do both have the same risk of becoming alcoholics or substance abusers? “Anyone is at risk for alcoholism, but studies have shown that individuals who have a family history of alcoholism are more prone to it,” said Tech. Sgt. Michelle Wilson

  • How mail gets to the AOR

    Deployments have changed over the years. It’s now easier than ever to stay connected with loved ones back at home through video chats and messenger applications, but there still isn’t anything quite like receiving a hand-written birthday card or a care package with a favorite homemade snack. In

  • How pilot training has changed over the years

    With senior leadership making innovation a priority, the Air Force has changed how Airmen are trained and how they become proficient at their jobs. This in turn has changed the way the Air Force develops pilots and what pilot training currently looks like.

  • How the Air Force got smarter about its aviation fuel use in 2018

    Did you know the Air Force is the largest consumer of fuel in the Department of Defense? This may not surprise you, if say, you’ve ever watched a sortie of F-35 Lighting IIs complete an aerial refueling, or witnessed a C-5 Galaxy lift (seemingly) effortlessly into the sky. In fact, the Air Force

  • How the Air Force Uniform Board works

    Throughout the years, Air Force uniforms have evolved to meet modern day operational requirements, but few Airmen know the process involved or who is responsible for these changes.The biggest misconceptions seem to center around the uniform board. Contrary to what some believe, the board is not the

  • How to build a bomb

    "Some people think you open a box and there is a bomb, ready to be loaded on an aircraft," said Tech. Sgt. Erick Chrostowski, the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions production supervisor here. "There is more to it than that," he said. The initial steps of the process are identifying,

  • How to catch a falcon by the tail

    The tension must be right on, down to a thousandth of an inch. If the measurement is off, it means a multimillion dollar F-16 Fighting Falcon could careen off the runway at nearly 150 mph. And if the system fails completely, that same gray metal beast, filled with jet fuel, and its pilot will meet

  • How to spend a million

    They have what many people would consider the ideal job -- getting paid to shop all day while spending other people’s money.But unlike many shoppers, the contracting office here cannot go downtown and browse through the shops or cruise the mall.“(We) don’t go off base (because of) the dangers around

  • How to: The Airman Comprehensive Assessment

    It has been nearly half a year since the release and implementation of the new Airman Comprehensive Assessment, a comprehensive worksheet that aids in creating feedback between a supervisor/rater and their ratee. AF.mil reviews the form that guides supervisors through the conversation with their

  • How up-to-date is your list of medications?

    Just as you wouldn't go commissary shopping with last year's grocery list, the same principle holds true for showing up at a medical appointment with an out-of-date list of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and related health products such as vitamin supplements and herbal teas. But

  • How we quit smokin'

    Major components of the Childers Filtration System include sets of filters, air hoses to and from the filter sets and oil drain tubing which send collected oil to a catch bottle, at Dover Air Force Base, Deleware. The CFS was created by a team led by retired Master Sgt. Michael Childers, the former

  • How well do you know your fellow Airmen?

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley discusses how to "Take Care of Airmen" in his latest Chief's View on Air Force Link.The chief addresses an Airman's role as a supervisor or wingman."We need to get to know our Airmen and their families -- know where they're from, why they joined